Kaif sets up first SA tour
win for India 'A'

A scintillating knock of 76 runs by Mohammad Kaif helped India 'A' defeat South Africa President's X1 by seven wickets in a one-day tour match in Pretoria on Friday.

It was the Indians' first victory of the tour since their arrival more than six weeks ago, having drawn the first 'Test' match and lost the second. They have another one-day tour match against a country district side before playing two limited-over matches against South Africa "A" in Johannesburg next week.

Chasing a target of 183, the visitors cruised to victory inside 35 overs, with Kaif smashing 12 boundaries on the way to his half-century.

Earlier, South Africa President's XI were restricted to a paltry 182 for seven after skipper Jacob Martin had won the toss and invited the hosts to bat.

Right-arm seamer L Balaji was the wrecker-in-chief with a haul of three wickets for 46 runs while Rakesh Patel, Amit Bhandari, Murali Kartik and Mohammed Kaif claimed a wicket each.

The visitors fully justified their captain's decision to bowl first, reducing the opponents to 117 for 7 in 32 overs. But late middle order batsman J M Morekl (50 not out) revived the President's XI innings them with an unbroken 63-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Z A Ibrahim

Brief scores:
South Africa President's XI 182 for 7 in 50 overs (L L Bosman 38, J A Morkel 50 not out; Balaji 3-46) lost to India 'A' 183 for three (M Kaif 76, G Gambhir 30, J Martin 21 not out).

Mail Cricket Editor